BESc in Integrated Engineering

 

The Integrated Engineering Program at Western University*

As industries rapidly evolve, innovation continues to dissolve the traditional boundaries between engineering disciplines.

Our program prepares students for this shift by fostering systems-level thinking and adaptability. Integrated Engineering takes a multidisciplinary approach where students learn the fundamentals of core engineering disciplines – mechanical, electrical, civil, chemical & systems – along with entrepreneurship, leadership, and innovation that involve impact analyses, human-centered design, and sociotechnical skills. Students also develop an understanding of business analysis, technology commercialization, and project management. This helps them recognize how technical decisions connect to cost, performance, risk, and sustainability.

In industry, this program equips students to adapt and work across a wide variety of roles, communicate across technical boundaries and support project progression across its lifecycle, including hands-on development, leading systems integration and decision making. Through our ELI and technical elective courses, students are encouraged to build their specialized focus in industries such as food, energy, manufacturing, automotive, consulting and more – and make connections across disciplines, fields of expertise and knowledge. We aim to look beyond single components and focus on optimizing systems as a whole.

*Integrated Engineering program at Western has been accredited since 2001 (Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board).

 

Dual, Combined and Concurrent Degrees

Currently, Integrated Engineering offers the BESc/HBA (Honours Business Administration) and BESc/JD (Law) combined degree options. Concurrent degree options (e.g. with BESc in Artificial Intelligence Systems Engineering or BESc in Biomedical Engineering) are also being developed to launch alongside the new modular curricula being launched across the Faculty of Engineering at a later date.

Integrated Engineering students have pursued dual degrees of their choice (e.g. BESc in Integrated Engineering and BSc in Physics; BESc in IE and BSc in Kinesiology). A number of Science courses can count towards BESc technical elective requirements (please contact the our office or UGSO for up-to-date information). 

The IE program can offer complementary advantages for those pursuing a BESc/HBA combined degree. However, the BESc in Integrated Engineering, on its own, can prepare Engineering students for the careers often sought by BESc/HBA holders (e.g. Consulting). 

 

Integrated Engineering Careers

Western graduates of the Integrated Engineering program work in Engineering, Consulting, Engineering Management/Project Management, and business leadership roles in a wide range of sectors including: Automotive, Energy, Healthcare, Pharmaceuticals, Manufacturing, Construction, Finance and more. 

IE graduates do work in traditional Engineering roles building on their chosen areas of focused study, often combined with internship. However, because the IE program equips Engineering students with versatility in the workplace, IE graduates often demonstrate expansion of role portfolios to incorporate both technical and management aspects of complex projects. IE program may also well-support role changes across Engineering and Consulting. Learn more about featured alumni and their career paths in our Speaker Series, and on our Featured Alumni page. 

Program overview, alumni speaker series, and sample IE career paths: files/Undergraduate/IE Slideshow Feb13 2025.pdf

 

Research and Innovation Projects

John M. Thompson Centre for Engineering Leadership and Innovation, the home unit for Integrated Engineering, includes faculty members with diverse expertise: Systems Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Biomedical and Mechanical Engineering. Some of our faculty members are cross-appointed with Ivey Business School; some are cross-appointed with different Engineering departments across the Faculty of Engineering.

As undergraduate students, you are encouraged to embark on innovative projects aimed towards commercialization (check out the Thompson Innovation Fund), and also gain research experience in projects that have positive impact on our local stakeholders and international partners (check out FAST research group and ICFAR). Besides summer research projects supervised by the Thompson Centre faculty, undergraduate students can conduct research with Dr. Joshua Pearce through a technical elective course, Integrated Engineering 4490 (or 4491).  

 

 

 

 

Co-Op and Internship

Engineering Co-Op and Internship offer a great opportunity for students (to test one’s competencies, to contribute meaningfully to projects, to learn from the coaching and mentorship of professionals, to learn more about the industry and sector) and for employers (to develop and test candidates for future hires, to hire useful talent with co-operative education tax credit). Official registration with a University’s Co-op/Career Services office is expected and implied in Engineering Co-Op and Internship positions.  

Below are a sample of employers who have hired Integrated Engineering students as Engineering Interns (12-16 months), along with the associated role titles: 

  • Suncor (integrated energy and power) – Reliability Intern​
  • Ontario Power Generation (nuclear power) – Professional Engineering Year University Student Intern​
  • Ameresco Canada (renewable energy efficiency & management) – Engineering Intern​
  • SNC-Lavalin Engineers and Constructors (now AtkinsRéalis, energy and nuclear) – Process Engineering Intern​
  • ​Celestica (high-reliability design, manufacturing, supply chain solutions) – Corporate Commodity Management Associate​
  • CrossLinx Transit Solutions Constructors (LRT design & construction) – Technical Department Intern​
  • TransCanada – Threat Management Engineering Internship Student​
  • Magna International Inc. (mobility tech, automotive) - Engineering Student, Mechanical​
  • Formet Industries (automotive frame manufacturing) – Process Engineering Co-op Student​
  • Schaeffler Canada Inc. (automotive) - Process Engineering Leader Intern​
  • Litens Automotive Partnership (advanced battery systems and tech for electric vehicles) – Product Designer​
  • ​Thales Canada, Inc. (research and tech in civil aviation, defence, digital identity, security) – Component Engineer Intern​
  • Diamond Aircraft – Flight Science Junior Engineer Intern​
  • BOS Innovations Inc. (turnkey automation integrator) – Applications Engineering Data Analyst​
  • ​Sanofi Pasteur Ltd. (pharmaceutical, biomanufaturing) – Co-op Student​
  • McCormick Canada (specialty food industry) – Engineering Intern​
  • Labatt Breweries of Canada – Maintenance Engineer​
  • ​IPEX Inc. (thermoplastic piping) - Project Engineering Co-Op Student​
  • HTS Engineering Ltd. (heat transfer solutions) – Co-op Design Engineering​
  • Great Lakes Copper Ltd. (plumbing, refrigeration, OEM, medical, air conditioning) – Mechanical Engineering Student Intern​
  • Steelway Building Systems (custom-engineered steel buildings) – Manufacturing Engineering Assistant​
  • ​EBA Engineering (construction management and inspection) – Technologist Level 2​
  • Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) – Operations Analyst Intern​
  • AECON (project development, financing, investment, management) – Project Designer​
  • Deloitte – Technical Analyst​

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It is common for Engineering students to obtain their first Summer Co-Op (4 months) after their second year of studies (although we do see students having their first Co-Op right after their first year in Engineering). IE students have worked with the following employers (including, but not limited to) for short-term Co-Op positions: General Dynamics Land Systems, Ford Motor Company, General Motors, Qualtec Seating Systems (Magna), Ontario Power Generation, Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd., Linamar Corporation, McGregor Allsop Ltd., GFL Infrastructure Inc., Labatt Breweries, HDR Architecture Associates Inc., Read Jones Christoffersen Ltd., Ameresco Canada, Trisun Sales and Management Inc., ZTR Control Systems Inc., Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada. 

For more information related to Engineering Co-Op and Internship, and to get early access to job posting and resume help: https://www.eng.uwo.ca/careers/students/undergraduate-co-op/index.html 

 

Program Brochure and Progression Sheet

IE brochure page 1

IE brochure page 2

Official Progression Sheets show how courses are planned for completion of program requirements within 4 BESc years of full-time study (current program structure). For an alternate presentation of the same information, you can review this attachment: files/Undergraduate/Integrated Engineering Courses Progression 2024-25.pdf. The program accommodates a level of flexibility in the sequence of electives and some of the core courses. Contact the Program Lead (Minha R. Ha) or Academic Advisor (Diana Ali) for more details.